"As long as they’re doing nothing, I’m not going to apologize for trying to do something."

Obama’s defiant attitude comes as House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, plans to propose legislation that could bring a lawsuit against him for implementing executive actions that the GOP contends amounts to a breach of his constitutional power by side-stepping the legislative process.

Recently, Obama has ramped up his use of executive authority as a way to bypass a deeply divided Congress, avoiding inaction on issues the White House has made hallmarks of the President's second term agenda.

"It’s not crazy, it’s not socialism," Obama said of his transportation proposal. "It’s not the imperial presidency - no laws are broken. We’re just building roads and bridges like we’ve been doing for the last, I don’t know, 50, 100 years. But so far, House Republicans have refused to act on this idea."

soundoff(1,488 Responses)

Rudy NYC

Zack

"It’s not crazy, it’s not socialism," Obama said of his transportation proposal. "It’s not the imperial presidency – no laws are broken. – Obama

Funny about hat no laws were broken comment. The Supreme Court disagrees..... 0 – 9 Obama... You're 0 – 9 on executive order cases before the court. So yea – laws HAVE been broken and the court found it necessary to rein you in.
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He wasn't talking about executive orders. He was talking about two things. One, he was talking about a bill that's been sitting on Boehner's desk since 2012 was bill to repair bridges and roads. Two, he was lamenting the fact that the House has failed to act on the gas tax bill that funds the national highway funds.

The federal gas tax has not been raised in close to 25 years, and the fund is about to go broke. Running out of transportation money will put every transportation job in the country on shutdown, which would put an estimated 750,000 people immediately out of work. All that the House has to do is take a vote to extend the federal gas tax, and what rate.

July 2, 2014 03:08 pm at 3:08 pm |

Mike

This is the most lame duck president we have ever had. I am middle class and he hasn't done crap for me. Anyone who thinks he has is on welfare or government aid. Go to your local pharmacy and stand in line for an hour and see what he has done. His first words were I will work with the other side, he doesn't even know where the other side is.

July 2, 2014 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |

rs

Zack

"It’s not crazy, it’s not socialism," Obama said of his transportation proposal. "It’s not the imperial presidency – no laws are broken. – Obama

Funny about hat no laws were broken comment. The Supreme Court disagrees..... 0 – 9 Obama... You're 0 – 9 on executive order cases before the court. So yea – laws HAVE been broken and the court found it necessary to rein you in.
_________________________
So, Zack-when is the GOP going to get to work? They've done NOTHING for 6 years except take a salary. Or is that how the Right rolls these days. At least Obama is doing something.

July 2, 2014 03:16 pm at 3:16 pm |

Tschrny Wolf

Treating the immigrants well for a while, is an investment. If they are abusively thrown out, probably their Presidents will execute them, or they will join the guerrrillas. Years later they will fight Mexico and the United States. Do we want or need a bloody Afghanistan almost next door? It is easy to get mice and throw them out, however unless you clean your home and seal holes the animals use to get in, you wont get rid of them.

I know several hispanics, they have legal visas, but refuse to take American citizenship, why? First, latins do not adapt well to lontg winters. Second, they miss tyheir extended relatives who live in Latin America. Many do not khnow how to speak English. Getting jobs attracted them to emigrate. But now America has stopped being a source of jobs since walker bush outsourced millions of American jobs 😦

July 2, 2014 03:18 pm at 3:18 pm |

Cyg

I am going to sue John Boehner for wasting tax payer dollars to maintain his tan-base. How do you morons keep voting for a guy who sits in office and does nothing all day except get a tan? At least the President works...

July 2, 2014 03:21 pm at 3:21 pm |

Thomas

Ok...so let's write another check for the highway bill
and lets raise the debt ceiling again and again
and let's keep giving huge refund checks to illegals
and raise the debt ceiling
Because we are America...the land of unlimited cash and an open checkbook...we don't want anything to ever stop...so let's keep spending and spending and we can keep blaming everything on the former administration

July 2, 2014 03:24 pm at 3:24 pm |

gypsy2091

I'll settle for IMPEACHMENT!

July 2, 2014 03:27 pm at 3:27 pm |

Anonymous

From how he dresses, acts, speaks, divides and how he berates anyone that disagrees with him – Obama has the least class of any president. Class go with leadership. Obama lacks both.

July 2, 2014 03:29 pm at 3:29 pm |

rs

Republicans have lost all touch with reality.

July 2, 2014 03:29 pm at 3:29 pm |

rs

Thomas

Ok...so let's write another check for the highway bill
and lets raise the debt ceiling again and again
and let's keep giving huge refund checks to illegals
and raise the debt ceiling
Because we are America...the land of unlimited cash and an open checkbook...we don't want anything to ever stop...so let's keep spending and spending and we can keep blaming everything on the former administration
_______________________
Perhaps if the freaking stupid Republicans stopped cutting taxes on the rich and for corporations, we wouldn't run a deficit. Ever consider that one, perhaps?

July 2, 2014 03:31 pm at 3:31 pm |

sickofitall

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Obama biography...apparently Obama seriously considered a career in the military...yep...he said he gave a lot of thought...and then he did another line of coke and the urge passed..

Hands down the most pathetic little man and whiner to ever occupy the oval office. He had the opportunity of 100 lifetimes handed to him and he p!1ssed all away blaming everything on everyone instead of working to inspire nation that actually saw so much potential in him. He possess none of the skill set that Clinton did in terms of a capacity to work with others. He's in love with himself and the most frightening thing – appears to believe his own BS

July 2, 2014 03:31 pm at 3:31 pm |

cobra

Why sue the POS, just have a general arrest him and throw him in a stock aid and forget about him.

July 2, 2014 03:36 pm at 3:36 pm |

Thom

The debt has actually gone down 25% under Obama, and it would go down a lot more if congress didn't keep giving the top 5% outrageous tax breaks and perks and then raise taxes on the middle to do it. Anyone who votes for the GOP is voting themselves right into the streets one day. You people need to think things through a little before you vote for another one of them, because the GOP is only making the rich richer and the middle poorer, every time they are in control. Look at the history. The rich get richer when there is a GOP Pres and the middle gets better when there is a Liberal. Duhhhhh !!!

July 2, 2014 03:42 pm at 3:42 pm |

Frank

Remember why America was founded. People became tired of the government walking all over them and deciding what was good for them. We now find ourselves in the same position again where a Socialist and his band of merry men think they know what is good for us and have become a dictatorship in a few short years. It's time to take our country back and tell our government that enough is enough. We need term limits for all branches of government. Cleaning house is the only way to regain our freedoms and restore America to its greatness.

July 2, 2014 03:42 pm at 3:42 pm |

Kristophe

That's not very Presidential.

July 2, 2014 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

Frank

I love it when the Liberals say that the debt has gone down under Obama. Look at the deficit when he entered office and the deficit today! And I don't want to hear that it was Bush's fault as that excuse is getting old. This President loves to spend money and taking every dime of the top 5% wouldn't put a dent in it.

July 2, 2014 03:46 pm at 3:46 pm |

Kristophe

If the GOP are a bunch of babies for threatening to sue the president, why is the president stooping to such a childish retort . . . he forgot to add nah, nah, nah at the end of it.

July 2, 2014 03:46 pm at 3:46 pm |

Thom

Congress is not working for you.....they are working for the rich and for themselves. They should all be canned.....because of partisan BS they don't care a flying turd about you or me........this is the worst congress we have ever had hands down....just a bunch or partisan babies stealing our money and taking bribes and as many kick backs as possible......Washington is broken......and it is because of the HOUSE, where it all starts. Name ONE THING they have done to help this country in the last 4 years......... NOTHING, NADA, Zilch !!! They are a bunch of losers and should all be fired ......for others who actually care about their country FIRST before party...They are nothing but garbage that needs to be thrown out........I wish I could say how I REALLY feel......

July 2, 2014 03:49 pm at 3:49 pm |

s v

Let's hear you say "So IMPEACH me," Mr. Provocateur.

July 2, 2014 03:50 pm at 3:50 pm |

GOP FAIL

I'm in the middle class and Obama did GREAT for me! My 401K has quadrupled since Obama became POTUS.

Bush whacked my 401K to shreds. GOP = FAILURE

July 2, 2014 03:53 pm at 3:53 pm |

HUH?

Sue? To good for the worst president since WW2. First tar and feather, second impeach!

July 2, 2014 03:59 pm at 3:59 pm |

dutchtown

What has president Obama done for the middle class? or really, what has any president done for the middle class?
Gas is outrageously expensive, food has skyrocketed and despite any efforts, medical care is through the roof! you can't deduct food, or medical cost, unless its more than 7 % more than you gross in a year, or if your not a business owner, the gas it takes to go to work and back. So suck it Washington!!!!

July 2, 2014 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

Timothy Kane

He says this as he destroys the Middle-class he is claiming to work for.

July 2, 2014 04:08 pm at 4:08 pm |

Mark

The president will plead the 5th. Then all the hard drives in the White House will accidentally and simultaneously crash due to a fire that he will say was set by Repubs. Then he'll use his imperial pen to grant amnesty to millions of illegals – creating a catalyst for dozens of countries to channel their poor and welfare through Mexico and into the US – then president will grant those illegals amnesty. Then all the illegals will go on welfare and vote Democrat. Then the Democrats will vote for a one party system. Then America will be truly Imperial.